Skate of the Arts
Raising awareness about the skateboard community of Brussels’ Mont des Arts by staging a presentation of skate activities.
When the mayor of Brussels was re-imagining his city in the year 2000, some things did not agree with his vision. He notoriously decided to chop down all tower buildings that obstructed his view; but he was also determined to end all skateboard activity in his city. Accusing them of being dangerous, damaging street furniture and promoting an insecure image of the city, he decided to obstruct their activities by all means. But skating is a street-culture, and a very vibrant one.
In 2001 police round ups and strategic placing of street furniture, was making skating on the Mont des Arts increasingly difficult. Instead of a plaintive demonstration, Skate of the Arts was an opportunity to show to press and passers-by what skaters are capable of. Coffee and cake attracted an extra audience. The attention forced the mayor to publicly acknowledge the importance of the street skating culture, and had to reconsider his plans.
In 2002, through shop and meeting point Ride all Day, the skaters of the Mont des Arts were involved in the development of a skatepark for Brussels.
Ongoing projects:
L-Atlas
Precare
Generalized Empowerment
Krax
Micronomics
Cartografie
Bouillot
Publications:
Bunker Souple Repertorium 1998 & 2000: available at Citymine(d) offices.
Generalized Empowerment. Uneven Development and Urban Interventions, 2006. Download here.
MapRAC. Plannen voor het RijksAdministratief Centrum. La Cité Administrative de l'Etat en cartes & en question, 2004: available at Citymine(d) offices.
Micronomics scanning: DVD online soon.
Networkbook for Urban P/Arts. 42 initiatives capturing London's Public Space, 2004: available at Citymin(e)d offices.
Towards. Cartes Subjectives d'interventions Urbaines à Bruxelles // Subjectieve Kaarten van Stedelijke Internventies in Brussel: available at Citymine(d) offices.